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The Good Shepherd
Part Two – Those
Missing And Astray |
There is a sad trend today in the Body of Christ with millions of professing
Christians leaving churches because of abuse, neglect and hurt. Jesus Christ is
the Great Shepherd of the Church. Pastors are to be under shepherds of the
church caring for the flock of God under their care as Christ cares for His
entire Body. Sadly, this is not the case. For those hurting and wounded in
church systems, this message of hope and encouragement is for you today. There
is a Shepherd in heaven looking for the one lost sheep out of the ninety and
nine. He is not a hireling, but one who can heal a broken heart and restore
fellowship again. We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in
these last days. Perilous times are HERE and we will need the communion and
fellowship of fellow believers unlike ever before.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: Ezek 34:12- As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is
among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will
deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and
dark day.
Ezek 34:23 - And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them,
even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And
David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd:
they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
As we continue our message series on
the Good Shepherd, it is interesting to think about why the Lord uses the term
“sheep,” to describe us as believers under his care. According to Middle Eastern
tradition, the Eastern shepherd was the guide of his flock. The sheep never
thought of going before him; it would have been an anomaly in nature for the
sheep to go first, and for the shepherd to follow. They had no need whatever to
know the way across the trackless desert; it was enough for them that the
shepherd knew it. They need not know where the green pastures still remained
throughout the droughts of summer, or where there were quiet resting-places
where they might lie down at noon. It was sufficient for the sheep that the
shepherd knew, and all that they had to do was patiently to follow where he led
the way.
David, the writer of the greatest
Psalm in the world describing the Lord’s manner of ministry as our Shepherd, had
no doubt, often gone on in front of his flock thinking with an anxious heart, of
the place where he should lead them; and as he looked back at them, he could see
that they were patiently following him, with no distraction to trouble them,
happy that they were provided for, they grazed as they went along the way, not
knowing, and not wanting to know, whither they were going, but quite content
because their shepherd led the way.
The Good Shepherd Seeks Those Sheep Who Are Missing And Astray
Ezek 34:12- As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among
his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them
out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Ezek 34:23 - And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them,
even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And
David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd:
they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
The Holy Spirit through Ezekiel
speaks of Israel’s prophetic leadership with a just indignation, yet upon the
flock with a tender compassion. God, by the prophet, here expresses both in a
high degree; and the shepherds are called upon (v. 7,9) to hear the word of the
Lord, to hear this word. The Spirit calls the shepherd to HEAR the word of the
Lord and see how God the Father little regards their hireling ways. Many had
made much of themselves, which is a serious issue TODAY as well. SELF has become
the new god of the church. We would never bow down to a Buddha but we bow down
to the god of SELF every day and every week in our local fellowships.
The Shepherds made nothing of the
flocks they were ordained to lead, yet God’s care for the flock never ceased.
Ezekiel warns that a judgment will come upon the hirelings. Those that will not
hear the word of the Lord giving them their direction shall be made to hear the
word of the Lord reading them their doom
God is displeased with the hireling
spirit of the under shepherds in the church today. Through Ezekiel, their crimes
are repeated,
Ezekiel 34:8
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my
flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd,
neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves,
and fed not my flock;
God's flock became a prey to the
deceivers first that drew them to idolatry, and then to the destroyers that
carried them into captivity; and these shepherds took no care to prevent either
the one or the other, but were as if there had been no shepherds; and therefore
God says (v. 10), and confirms it with an oath (v. 8), “I am against the
shepherds.”
They had a commission from God to
feed the flock, and made use of this name in what they did, expecting he would
stand by them. "No," says God, "so far from that, I am against them."
As Matthew Henry writes in his commentary on the good shepherd, "It
is not our having the name and authority of shepherds that will engage God for
us, if we do not the work enjoined us, and be not faithful to the trust reposed
in us."
Many will be held to account for the
manner in which they have discharged their trust: "I will require my flock at
their hands, and charge it upon them that so many of them are missing." Note,
Those will have a great deal to answer for in the judgment day that take upon
them the care of souls and yet take no care of them. Ministers must watch and
work as those that must give account, <Heb. 13:17>
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for
your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and
not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
.
Those thinking that God does not see
or hear the greed gospel that many push today in lieu of feeding truth to the
flock of God are in for a reckoning. God will not always permit his people to be
trampled upon by those that should support them, but will find a time to deliver
them from the shepherds their false friends, as well as from the lions their
open enemies. I believe this is what is happening right now. There are over 12
million professing Christians out of church right now and we really don’t know
why or what to do about it. Oh, there are the so-called experts who THINK they
know, but we don’t KNOW!
God is concerned for the flock. He
speaks through Ezekiel as if he were more concerned for them because He has seen
them neglected, for with HIM the FATHERLESS finds mercy!
Deut 10:18- He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and
loves the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
And the church has NOT many fathers
today. It has preachers and all sorts of other men, who put fancy titles on it,
but we have lost the FATHERS with godly wisdom, patience and all longsuffering
that knows how to care for people first, then worry about ministry second. TRUE
MINISTRY is about PEOPLE, NOT numbers, money, building projects, or splitting
off from a movement to prove we are right. The god of SELF though makes the
ministry feel today that it’s more important that WE be heard, than our sheep be
taken care of.
Precious promises are made here upon
the occasion, which were to have their accomplishment in the return of the Jews
out of their captivity and their re-establishment in their own land. Let the
shepherds hear this word of the Lord, and know that they have neither part nor
lot in the matter. But let the poor sheep hear it and take the comfort of it.
Though magistrates and ministers fail in doing their part, for the good of the
church, yet God will not fail in doing his; he will take the flock into his own
hand rather than the church shall come short of any kindness he has designed for
it. The under-shepherds may prove careless, but the chief Shepherd neither
slumbers nor sleeps. They may be false, but God abides faithful. Praise God,
praise God. Man was lost and undone without God and His Son, but the CHIEF
SHEPHERD reached down and brought us all out of the miry pit.
The Wandering Sheep, The Lack Of Seeking Shepherds
Ezekiel 34:11
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and
seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among
his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them
out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
God will gather his sheep together
that were scattered, and bring those back to the fold that had wandered from it:
"I, even I, who alone can do it, will do it, and will have all the glory of it.
I will both search my sheep and find them out (v. 11) as a shepherd does (v.
12), and bring them back as he does the stray-sheep, upon his shoulders, from
all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." There
are cloudy and dark days, windy and stormy ones, which scatter God's sheep,
which send them hither and thither, to divers and distant places, in quest of
secrecy and safety. But, wherever they are the eye of God will find them out;
for his eyes run to and fro through the earth, in favor of them. I will seek out
my sheep; and not one that belongs to the fold, though driven ever so far off,
shall be lost.
The Lord knows those that are his; he
knows their work and where they dwell <Rev. 2:13>, and where they are hidden.
Ezekiel 34:13
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries,
and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of
Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
When his time shall come his arms
will fetch them home (v. 13): I will bring them out from the people. God will
both incline their hearts to come by his grace and will by his providence open a
door for them and remove every difficulty that lies in the way. They shall not
return one by one, clandestinely stealing away, but they shall return in a body:
"I will gather them from the countries into which they are dispersed, not only
the most considerable families of them, but every particular person. The Lord
declares, "I will seek
that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away," v. 16.
This does not have the sound of the sentiment of most modern pastors today. If
anything the pastors are the ones doing the driving away! The Lord promises to
bind up that which was broken, in other words, He will heal the hurts inflicted
by the shepherds upon the sheep. He will strengthen that which was sick.
Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and
will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but
I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
This was done when so many thousand
Jews returned triumphantly out of Babylon, under the conduct of Zerubbabel,
Ezra, and others. When those that have gone astray from God into the paths of
sin are brought back by repentance, when those that erred come to the
acknowledgment of the truth, when God's outcasts are gathered and restored, and
religious assemblies, that were dispersed, rally again, upon the ceasing of
persecution, and when the churches have rest and liberty, then this promise has
a further accomplishment.
It speaks prophetically of National
Israel’s return to God and to the Land, but the prophetic implications are for
us today as sheep of the flock of God. He will gather up those that are hurt,
will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick, will
comfort those that mourn in Zion and with Zion. If we as ministers, who should
speak peace to those who are of a sorrowful spirit, neglect our duty, the Holy
Ghost the Comforter will be faithful to his office.
John 16:7-11 - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you
that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but
if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because
they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye
see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
But, as it follows, the fat and the
strong shall be destroyed. He that has rest for disquieted saints has terror to
speak to presumptuous sinners. The GOOD SHEPHERD never speaks peace to sinful
and wicked men but declares the WORD OF GOD that cuts our flesh like a two-edged
sword. We all fall and fail in times of temptation but God will judge
presumptuous sin! We will reap what we sow. Things will not just “work out;” we
must REPENT and see the evil declared against us by God cease before it destroys
us. The GOOD SHEPHERD sees the SOULS of men as the most precious item in the
entire universe and eternal life as the ultimate quest of humanity, not
temporal, worldly pleasure, fame and fortune. Hirelings deal in temporal matters
by not preaching the CROSS of CHRIST to their flocks. They seek to appease the
conscience of their tithe-paying members in sin by preaching a gospel that makes
SELF the god, and not the CHRIST of the Scriptures.
The Lord knows that SIN is the reason
for the hurts of humanity. Thus, the remedy for that hurt is the proclamation of
PEACE through the gospel of Christ that those who come to Him in faith can be
set free from sin and delivered by the powers of darkness.
As we talked about in part one of
this message series, true Shepherds always feed the people as the sheep of his
pasture, that have been famished. They prepare a table before us and allow us to
feast and dine on the goodness and riches of CHRIST instead of the sickening and
leanness of the humanistic gospel of man so many preach today. David said the
Shepherd Lord “prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.” The
Good Shepherd prepares a table in front of the powers of darkness knowing the
RICHES OF CHRIST are MORE than enough to defeat the powers of Satan!
Psalm 23:1-6 -A Psalm of David.- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters. [3] He restores my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of
the Lord forever.
God will bring the returning captives
safely to their own land (v. 13), will feed them upon the mountains of Israel,
and that is a good pasture, and a fat pasture (v. 14);
Ezekiel 34:13-14
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries,
and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of
Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I
will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall
their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall
they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
All true spiritual diets that make
sheep healthy come from an understanding of the finished work of Christ. We
preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED and nothing more! Neighbor hear me. The world’s message,
which has found its way into our modern gospel, teaches a message that leaves
man wanting for so much more. The gospel of the riches of CHRIST never ceases to
fill our hearts and always leaves us desiring more.
Eph 3:8- Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ;
That’s why the church has turned to
entertainment to keep our young people happy. We can’t satisfy them with our
lifeless gospel so we turn to the world’s standards. When the entertainment card
is played out though we are left with the same dilemma – they are just not
interested!
That goes for all sheep really, not
just the young ones. If the message of Christ and Him alone can’t keep people
excited about eternal life and heaven, then neighbor NOTHING WILL! NOTHING else
will do. You say, well we have to be “in tune with the society and times we live
in.” We do? Give me a break. Neighbor there is not two, three, four, five, six,
seven gospels – one for each period of time in human history. There is ONE
GOSPEL, ONE CHRIST, ONE CHURCH, ONE BODY OF CHRIST, ONE SAVIOR, ONE WAY, ONE
TRUTH, ONE GOD, ONE HOLY GHOST, ONE CHRIST. (DID I SAY THAT ALREADY?) My Lord, I
feel this. Hear what I say to you.
Eph 4:3-7- Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Paul asked the Corinthians, “IS
CHRIST DIVIDED?” He is NOT. We have divided the body up into so many different
fragments seeking to accommodate sinful man’s view of God. I’m not saying that
our expressions of faith have to be all the same – they never will be. God made
us all different and we will respond in different ways to the sensitivity of the
Holy Spirit. But friend, at the core of our uniqueness and differences, there
has to be a set of core values that keeps us BONDED in the true faith of the
gospel. And that BOND is CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED!
1 Cor 1:12-14 - Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul
crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Preach the cross, preach the cross,
and preach the cross! It’s not what man can or cannot “do” to make his life
better. Honey, we can’t make anything about us better. The only ONE who can do
that already HAS DONE that through the sacrifice of His life on Calvary’s bloody
tree 2,000 years ago. Our part is one word and one word alone – BELIEVE! We’re
called to BELIEVE on the ONE whom has been sent and what He has done for us
through His shed blood.
John 6:29-30
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe
on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, what sign shewest thou then, that we may see,
and believe thee? What dost thou work?
When we start feeding our sheep the
true gospel again, believe me, our sheep won’t wander to different pasture. They
will find the “fat” pasture, God has promised. They will find pasture that feeds
their hungry hearts and hurting souls. To state it again, this is why people are
leaving our churches by the groves. They figure is they are going to get a
30-minute book report or an hour-long speech on the great attributes of the
church they are attending, they’d just as soon stay home and hear a donkey bray
at midnight. It doesn’t cost them as much gasoline in their car to drive to the
church to hear that.
We need to return to feeding the
sheep the WORD OF GOD.
The Good Shepherd Causes Us To Lie Down In Good Pasture
Ezekiel 34:15
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
Psalm 23:2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
In the “good pasture” of His care,
the Lord will not only feed them through the ministry of good under shepherds,
but He will cause them to lie down (v. 15), which denotes a comfortable rest
after they had tired themselves with their wanderings, and a constant continuing
residence; they shall not be driven out again from these green pastures, as they
have been, nor shall they be disturbed, but shall lie down in a sweet repose and
there shall be none to make them afraid, he makes me to lie down in green
pastures.
Compare this with the like promise,
when God restored them not only to the milk and honey of their own land, to the
enjoyment of its fruits, but to the privileges of his sanctuary on Mount Zion,
the chief of the mountains of Israel.
Jeremiah 23:3-4- And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all
countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds;
and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them,
which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither
shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
Notice the things that happen when a good shepherd is over a flock:
Col. 1:10-15 - That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11]
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience
and longsuffering with joyfulness; [12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature:
The Holy Spirit through Paul prayed
that we as the church would be fruitful in every good work and INCREASE in the
knowledge of God. Notice, that increase was NOT about increasing in material
goods, wealth or our position and standings in life. The Holy Spirit’s prayer is
that we know more and more and more and more and more and more about JESUS! It
is HE who has strengthened us with ALL might according to HIS glorious POWER,
unto all patience and longsuffering. It is HIM who has made us MEET to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. And that inheritance is one
that thieves can’t get and moth can’t corrupt! It is HIM who has delivered us
from the power of darkness and has translated us into the KINGDOM of His DEAR
SON JESUS CHRIST.
It is CHRIST who we have redemption
through His blood, EVEN the forgiveness of sins. It is CHRIST who is the image
of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature. That’s the message we
need to be preaching if we are to see our flocks be fruitful and increase!!!!
It’s not a message about our “purpose” here on earth. Our “purpose” here on
earth is to be conformed into the image of Christ and obey the will of God.
A recent hostage crisis ended in
Atlanta, Georgia recently with a woman saying she read the perpetrator portions
of the Purpose Driven Life. Everybody under the sun went crazy and said, “wow, I
told you it was a great book.” People praised the book instead of praising GOD.
God was the one who kept that lady safe, not the book. The power of the GOSPEL
is what will change that man’s heart, not him finding his purpose on earth. Only
CHRIST can do that neighbor. ONLY CHRIST. Man cannot do that no matter how
religious or how spectacularly spiritual man tries to make himself out to be.
Secondly, the sheep under the care of
a good shepherd never fear or are dismayed. Good shepherds never succumb to the
pressure and seek to control the sheep through fear, intimidation and control.
Men who do such things are hirelings. Men (and women leaders too) who basically
beat their sheep each week with threats and claims that God will punish them if
they don’t “submit” themselves to the local authority over them are not true
shepherds.
The GOOD SHEPHERD never leaves His
sheep with such feelings. The Good Shepherd gently leads them to good pasture
and feeds them with the powerful Word of God that will ultimately keep the sheep
in submission in the first place. Many pastors literally shear their sheep each
Sunday and place so many burdens on them that it’s no wonder we’re having a mass
exodus from the institutionalized church.
Some of the stories that come from
churches with the “government of 12” system over it include many tales of fear,
intimidation and just outright witchcraft, which is the spirit of Jezebel,
control and manipulation. It’s NOT OF GOD! I want to say it again – IT’S NOT OF
GOD!
God said through Jeremiah that the
shepherds He plans to put over His flock would not be those who create a spirit
of fear and dismay in the sheep. Sadly, fear and intimidation is the operation
motifs of the church world today. Pastors rule their flocks with fists of iron,
demanding submission to their authority. Preacher let me tell you something. The
only authority you have over that flock is that which the LORD has given you,
not MAN! And if you are welding that authority in a demonic manner causing your
flock to live in fear and intimidation of you – you are a hireling and GOD IS
AGAINST YOU, not FOR YOU!!!!
I want to say it again – GOD IS
AGAINST YOU! Your church will not survive. People will leave and there will be
destruction brought to the foundations of the building you worship in.
To all pastors, I say this in love
but I say it today for the flock of God you have been entrusted with are not
just part of the machinery to keep you employed and with a paycheck. Those sheep under you are not your property, your punching bag or your
avenue to vent your frustrations on each week because you’re not happy where God
has placed you. Those are people you are ministering you and you need to show
them LOVE and respect – not beat them into fear and dismay.
The final thing the prophet said
about a good shepherd is that the sheep under his care does not lack. The lack
the prophet is talking about is spiritual lack, not physical. We need to be
concerned about people walking in a spirit of poverty for sure. But we need to
be MORE concerned about the people’s SPIRITUAL health FIRST. And the only
message that can keep believers healthy is the message of the Cross.
The “deep” things of God so many seek
after are found in the place where ALL THINGS began – the FINISHED WORK OF
CHRIST. All other doctrines must find their SOURCE and ROOT in the fundamental
message of the Cross. There is no other.
Good Shepherds preach the WORD OF GOD
and lift up the CROSS OF CHRIST; they don't exalt something they have just read
out of a book. Good Shepherds preach the BIBLE, not about the latest craze or
fad they’ve seen on TBN or other Christian television network. Good Shepherds
get before the Father and allow Him to feed their own hearts with fresh bread
from heaven so they can deliver fresh bread to the sheep. It’s not a canned
sermon 20 years old that is deader than the inhabitants of a local morgue. Dead
preachers preaching dead sermons to dead congregations are the result of a
leader who has become a hireling instead of walking the spirit of the Good
Shepherd.
Closing
This series of messages is developing
as we get into this. We pray these additional thoughts have blessed you today. I
want to close this journal message the same way I closed the first with a plea
to those who have been hurt in a church setting.
Take heart today, you’re not alone.
As we told you in our first message in this series on the Good Shepherd, we have
been hurt this past year in an abusive and unscriptural church environment
ourselves. These messages in a way are our way of finding healing for our own
hurts. We’ve had to forgive the leadership at the former church and move on.
It’s not easy some days to do that. I told one individual that as the leader of
my house I’m the one who makes the decisions where we worship. When I get hurt
it’s one thing; when my family gets hurt that’s quite another. I expect the
pastor I place my family’s spiritual well-being in the hands of to be a good
shepherd according to the Word of God. Notice, I did not say PERFECT Shepherd –
there are none of those!
We also recognize that there are no
perfect churches. But I will tell you this. If the church you attend is
preaching the true gospel of Christ and the BIBLE is the book you hear about
each week – not a myriad of others – no matter how great those books may be –
then chances are the sheep are grazing in safe, fat and good pasture.
We’ve found such pasture now and are
under a great shepherd who does not berate and beat us each week we come, but
lovingly preaches the word of God, feeding our souls with manna from heaven,
always pointing us not to a movement, a man, a church, or even a doctrine – but
to the unsearchable riches we find in CHRIST JESUS, our Lord and Saviour.
If the shepherd exercising authority
over you is pointing the flock to himself instead of Christ – he is a hireling!
You need to get out of that and flee like you’d run from a South Georgia
diamondback rattlesnake.
Don’t create rebellion or division.
Just leave. Leave and ask God to send you to a place where you can be fed. I
know the number of true shepherds is dwindling in this modern era of church
growth movements. But the Holy Spirit I believe is raising up some old veterans
who, though they have been hurt in the past, has allowed the Holy Spirit to heal
their wounds. As a result they have the heart of Jesus for the flock of God, not
the heart of a hireling and a wolf.
These seasoned veteran pastors are
coming back to the front lines of battle refreshed, with a new sense of love and
urgency for the sheep in the Body of Christ. They are coming back not caring
about building ministries, building buildings, splitting churches, taking sheep
from other churches, but BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST. They’re coming back to build PEOPLE in a spiritual, godly, loving
manner that preaches the truth that can set captives free.
The new group of shepherds will be
specially equipped for the days ahead which neighbor are going to be tough. You
need a shepherd over you. Let me say that again. You need to find good pasture
to graze in. Staying home on Sunday may keep you safe from the hurt of your past
but it’s the devil’s plan to isolate you from the body and keep you out of the
protection fellow believers can assist you with against his onslaughts. We are
not ignorant of the enemy’s devices! Paul said not to forsake the assembling of
ourselves together. Even if you’re holding a prayer meeting in your house once
of twice a week to just stay connected with others – DO IT. And keep praying the
Lord will help you find a good church.
I pray you find that peace today
neighbor. If you are struggling and in need of a friend to help you find that
place today, our family stands ready to assist you. Please email us. We’d love
to hear from you.
We’re here to partner with you and
help minister to you in these divine days we live in. Things ahead of us are not
going to get any easier. We will need the fellowship of other believers to help
us get through. That’s the call of the Holy Spirit to you today – “COME BACK” to
the fellowship of the saints. There is a GOOD SHEPHERD who is truly looking for
you today! He’s missed you but has never taken His eye off of you during your
journey! He loves you today and so do we. God bless.

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